Device for preventing thumb-sucking



April 24, 1956 J. R. BEAUDRY ET AL 2,742,898

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THUMB-SUCKING Filed April 9, 1954 5/ Jam 255/1002) United States Patent 2,742,898 DEVICE FOR PREVENTINGTHUMB-SUCKING John R. Beaudry and Harold L. Wiltsc, South Minneapolis,Minn.

Application April 9, 1954, Serial No. 422,111 Claims. (C1. 12s-' '133This invention relates to devices for the prevention of thumb-sucking.More particularly it relates to devices designed for attachment to achilds thumb to discourage the child from enga in in the habit ofthumbsucking and thus over an extended period to break the child of thehabit.

Thumb sucking is a habit which has been prevalent among babiesthroughout the history of mankind. Many devices and attempted cures havebeen designed to break this habit but none have proved sufiicientlypractical and inexpensive to be successful. Either they have beenineffective, are too costly, loosen and subsequently become lost, areunsanitary, or are unsatisfactory for one or more other reasons. Ourinvention is directed toward substantially diminishing or completelyovercoming all of these disadvantages.

It is a general object of our-invention to provide a novel and improveddevice for the prevention of thumb sucking which is of inexpensive andsimple construction.

A more specific object is to provide a novel and improved device fordiscouraging thumb sucking which is highly effective, can bemanufactured in large numbers from very small amounts of material, andhence very inexpensively, and can be applied quickly and easily.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved device for preventingthumb sucking which can quickly, easily and inexpensively be attached tothe thumb of a child without danger of the same subsequently becomingloose and dropping off.

Another object is to provide a novel device for preventing thumb-suckingconstructed to enable the user to more effectively attach the same to achilds thumb in order to preclude its loss.

Another object is to provide a novel device for preventing thumb-suckingconstructed to enable a more sanitary and effective means of attachmentto the childs a thumb upon which it is to be used and hence being'moredesirable from the standpoint of the health of the child.

Another object is to provide a novel device for the prevention ofthumb-sucking which is so simple in construction as to obviate anypossible detrimental eifects upon the child from the attachment meansutilized and to preclude against the possibility of the childdisengaging the attachment means.

These and other objects and advantages of our in vention will more fullyappear from the following de scription made in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of our inventionsecured to a childs thumb in the preferred manner;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of our invention as an article of manufacture;and

Fig. 3 is. a side elevationalview of the same.

()ur device may consist as shown in Fig. l of a casing: or harnessmember indicated generally as H which 2,742,898 P atented Apr. 24, 1956when applied surrounds the childs in the preferred manner shown. When 50applied the harness member H extends across the end of the thumbindicated generally as 5 as at 6 and is secured at one end behind theknuckle 7 of the thumb by a band of 'moisturepro'of adhesive tape 8. Thecasing or harness member I as shown, is in the nature of a casingframework. This harness member H when secured as shown Fig. 1 in effectprovides a casing for the thumb though it is open between portionsthereof so that the adhesive tape 8 may register firmly with the skin"of the thumb tar positive engagement thereof.

As an article of manufacture our device for preventing thumb sucking ispreferably integrally formed in a single die operation. As shown, it isformed of a thin flat sheet S of Vinylite and it has opposite surfaces 9and It as well as a centrally located portion 11. Extending outwardlyfrom the central portion 11 are four radially outwardly extending arms12. As best shown in Fig. 2 these arms extend in opposite directions andtheir outer end portions are restricted in width as at 13. Each of thearms 12 carries at its outer end an upstanding ear or abutment member14. I a v Extending upwardly from the surface 9 of the sheet S is aplurality of spaced short projections or teats 15. Since these teats 15are spaced they create therebetween air passages 16 so that air may passfreely between the adjacent teats. These teats or guard elements '15 areat least semi-rigid in nature preferably and since the preferredmaterial is Vinylite they are sufiicient in diameter so as to have atleast that much rigidity.

To utilize our device the central portion 11 is applied to the end ofthe childs thumb -5. The respective arms 12 are then bent rearwardlyalong the thumb and on opposite sides thereof as best shown in Fig. 1 soas to -ex= tend substantially normal to the central portion 11. Theteats 15' carried by the central portion 11 will then extend forwardlywhile the teats 15 pf the arms or side portions of the casing orharness" H extend outwardly and laterally from the harness. The outerend portions ofv the arms 12 are then secured fixedly to the thumb 5 byapplying a strip of moistureproof adhesive tape around the restrictedportions 13 and in position so that the rearward edge of the tape liesimmediately along the upstanding ears 14. The portions 13 which arerestricted in width insure that the tape will engage the skin of thethumb therebetween over a maximum area and the positioning of the taperelative to the cars 14 prevents the device from sliding forwardly oil?the thumb and be coming disengaged.

After the device has been applied as described in the precedingparagraph the parent need not concern himself about the tendency of thechild to suck his thumb. If the child inserts his thumb in his mouthpreparatory to sucking the same and attempts to suck thereon, air willrush inwardly into his mouth through the passages '16 which are disposedbetween the teats 15. A child enjoys sucking his thumb only if no aircan enter and since our device is so constructed so as to insure thatair will enter when the child begins to suck his thumb, the childquickly be"- comes discouraged and uninterested in further indulging inthis habit. Since a habit depends upon repetition the child will soon bebroken of the thumb=sucking habit and thereafter the device need nolonger be used.

It will be noted that because of the unique construction of our devicethe child wearing the device cannot remove or loosen it because it isimpossible for the child to get at the adhesive bandage with his teeth.The ears 14 prevent the child from gaining access to the bandage and atthe same time prevent the device from working forwardly from under theadhesive. Therefore the device will remain fast, this despite thepresence of water or saliva and it will not twist in the manner wellknown that other devices for this purpose which are attached to thewrist.

Our device has a number of very distinct advantages. The primaryadvantage, of course, is that our device is more effective than devicespreviously known and is so because it takes the enjoyment out of thehabit for the child for the simple reason that the child does not enjoythe thumb-sucking action if air enters his month while indulging in it.Another advantage is that the device is substantially more sanitary thanother devices such as those which are connected to the wrist by abandage, string or other securing devices. The smooth outer surface ofthe moistureproof adhesive substantially reduces possible contaminationand collection of germs on the securing means for holding the deviceupon the childs thumb.

Another advantage of our device is that it is extremely simple and easyto apply to the childs thumb and it can just as readily be removedwithout any substantial amount of inconvenience. In addition, it may beused repeatedly as desired and may be washed or boiled for sterilizationof the same.

Another advantage of our device is that once it has been attached to thechilds thumb it is less likely to become insecure or detached for itwill be held in the desired position more efiectively as a result of theconstruction of the device. It should be noted that it cannot be suckedoff the thumb as is the case with many such devices for the simplereason that air enters into the childs mouth through the passages 16during any attempt to suck upon the device.

Another advantage of our device is that there is ready access of air tothe various portions of the thumb. This avoids the formation of rashes,etc. which are so oftentimes experienced in children when portions oftheir skin are prevented from being exposed to the air.

An additional advantage of our device is that it is substantially saferthan other types of devices for preventing thumb-sucking. There is nopossibility of a portion of this device becoming loose or detached withsubsequent danger of the child swallowing all or a part thereof as isthe case with the bandage type of device or securement. Also there is nodanger of the child choking upon any loose or detached segments of thedevice because it will be securely attached to the thumb and no portionthereof will become disengaged as a result of normal activities of thechild.

It should also be noted that our device can be manufactured very simplyand in large numbers from a minimum of materials. It should be notedthat each device can be manufactured as a result of a single dieoperation and that the material used is relatively inexpensive. As aresult these devices can be manufactured very inexpensively and, ofcourse, can be sold to the public at a very low cost.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of our invention which consists of the mattershown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for the prevention of thumb-sucking comprising a casingmember adapted to be fixedly secured to a childs thumb in surroundingrelation and having an outer surface at each of the opposite sides ofthe thumb when so secured, and a plurality of spaced teat-likeprojections carried by said casing member and extending outwardly fromthe outer surface of said member at at least three of the sides of thethumb when so secured whereby air will enter the childs mouth throughthe spacings between said projections when the child places the thumbsurrounded by said casing member into his mouth and attempts to suck it.

2. A device for the prevention of thumb-sucking comprising a casingmember adapted to be fixedly secured to a childs thumb in surroundingrelation and having an outer surface at each of the opposite sides ofthe thumb when so secured, and a plurality of spaced teats carried bysaid casing member and extending outwardly and laterally from the outersurface thereof at each of the opposite sides of the thumb when sosecured whereby air will enter the childs mouth through the spacingsbetween said teats when the child places the thumb surrounded by saidcasing member into his mouth and attempts to suck it.

3. A device for the prevention of thumb-sucking comprising a casingmember adapted to be fixedly secured to a childs thumb in surroundingrelation and having forward and rearward end portions and side portions,and a plurality of spaced elongated guard elements carried by saidcasing member and extending outwardly and laterally from each of theside portions thereof, each of said elements extending primarily normalto said casing member whereby air will enter the childs mouth throughthe spacings between said guard elements when the child places the thumbsurrounded by said casing member into his mouth and attempts to suck it.

4. A device for the prevention of thumb-sucking comprising a casingmember having forward and rearward end portions and having sideportions, said casing mem her being adapted at its rearward end portionto be fixedly secured to a childs thumb in surrounding relation, and aplurality of spaced teat-like projections some of which extend forwardlyfrom the forward end portion of said casing member and some of whichextend laterally outwardly from each of the side portions of said casingmember whereby air will enter the child's mouth through the spacingsbetween said projections when the child places the thumb surrounded bysaid casing into his mouth and attempts to suck it.

5. A device for the prevention of thumb-sucking comprising a casingframework having forward and rearward end portions and having aplurality of side portions spaced from each other, said casing frameworkbeing adapted to be fixedly secured by its rearward end portions to achilds thumb in surrounding relation, and a plurality of at leastsemi-rigid spaced teats carried by said spaced side portions andextending outwardly therefrom whereby air will enter the childs mouththrough the spacing between said teats when the child places the thumbsurrounded by said casing framework into his mouth and attempts to suckit.

6. A device for the prevention of thumb-sucking comprising a harnessadapted to be secured to the thumb of a child in thumb surroundingrelation, said harness having an inner surface and an outer surface, anda plurality of spaced teats carried by said harness and extendingoutwardly from the outer surface thereof whereby air will enter thechilds mouth through the spacings between said teats when the childplaces the thumb surrounded by said harness into his mouth and attemptsto suck it.

7. In an article of manufacture, a sheet of tough material having acentral portion, a plurality of arms carried by said central portion andextending outwardly therefrom and being swingable to a position wherethey extend substantially normal to the plane of said central portion ofsaid sheet, said arms having opposed surfaces and having their outer endportions adapted to be fixedly secured to a childs thumb when said sheetis placed in surrounding relation thereto, and a plurality of spacedteats carried by said arms and extending outwardly from one of theopposed surfaces of said arms whereby air will enter the childs mouththrough the spacings between said teats when the child places the thumbsurrounded by said sheet into his mouth and attempts to suck it.

8. In an article of manufacture, a flexible sheet having a centralportion, a plurality of arms radiating outwardly from said centralportion, and a plurality of at least semi-rigid spaced teats carried bysaid arms and extending away from one surface of said arms, the outerend portions of said arms being adapted to be fixedly secured to achilds thumb when said sheet is applied thereto in surrounding relationwith said teats extending outwardly relative to the thumb whereby airwill enter the childs mouth through the spacings between said teats whenthe child places the thumb so surrounded by said flexible sheet into hismouth and attempts to suck it.

9. In an article of manufacture, a thin flexible sheet of toughmaterial, said sheet having a central portion and having a plurality ofarms carried by said central portion and extending outwardly therefromand being swingable to a position where they extend substantially normalto the plane of the sheet when said central portion is applied to theend of the thumb of a child, the outer end portions of said arms beingadapted to be fixedly secured to a childs thumb in surrounding relation,and a plurality of spaced teats carried by said central portion and saidarms except for the outer end portions of the latter and extendingoutwardly therefrom whereby air will enter the childs mouth through thespacings between said teats when the child places the thumb surroundedby said sheet into his mouth and attempts to suck it.

10. In an article of manufacture, a flexible sheet of tough materialhaving a central portion and having a plurality of arms carried by saidcentral portion, said arms extending outwardly from said central portionin opposite directions and being swingable to a position Where they mayextend substantially normal to the plane of the central portion of saidsheet when said central portion is applied to the end of the thumb of achild and having outer end portions restricted in size, said outer endportions having outwardly extending ears at their outer ends wherebysaid sheet member may be more effectively secured to the thumb of achild by the application of a piece of adhesive tape surrounding saidouter end portions and the thumb of the child at a point behind theknuckle of the thumb.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,103,083 Lynch Dec. 21, 1937 2,225,896 Belknap Dec. 24, 1940 2,637,850Waterman May 12, 1953

